Georgia’s Intellectual Property Centre signs two-year joint work plan with European Patent Office

Soso Giorgadze, the Chair of Georgia’s National Intellectual Property Centre, and António Campinos, the President of the European Patent Office, have signed a two-year joint work plan to strengthen protection of intellectual property in the country, the Centre said on Thursday.

The signing took place within the 65th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, running between July 9-17 in Geneva.

The Centre said the agreement involved development of patent attorneys in Georgia, elaboration of its electronic proceedings, improvement of existing services and support for introduction of new ones. In addition, it is planned to implement joint activities for raising qualifications of patent examiners.

The body noted adoption of the joint work plan was “one more important step forward on the way to European integration”, which in turn would have a “positive impact” on the acceleration of the process of the country’s accession to the European Patent Convention and making the country a full-fledged member of the European Patent Organisation.

The Centre also noted the signing of the document was preceded by the Agreement on Validation of European Patents in Georgia, which entered into force on January 15, with the country’s “fastest-growing economy in the wider region” joining the European patent area as the 45th member.